Upgrading from MYW tix to Gold AP

[squirk]

Warning: long.

We are traveling to the World this December, 12/19-12/22, pretty much just so we can see the Osborne Lights before they go away. Usually, we never go to WDW during "peak" periods.

Under normal circumstances, the new (cheaper) "Gold" AP would serve our needs just fine. But given that this upcoming trip takes place during Xmas week (one of the Gold's blackout periods), we have to use MYW or a Platinum AP to enter the parks. Our current AP expires in November, so we will have to make some sort of ticket purchase (MYW or AP renewal) to use this December.

DVC Platinum AP renewals for a family of five costs about $3,000. This would allow us to get into the parks this December, but that's really the only time we'd need a Platinum (a Gold could be used for all of our other usual trips), so it almost feels like a waste of money.

Five DVC Gold renewals for a family of five costs a hair under $2500. Again, this wouldn't let us into the parks this December, but would suffice for all of our other trips in 2016.

So I am trying to think of a way to do this:

1.) buy five 3-day MYW tickets for this December (total cost = $1650);
2.) book advance FP+'s;
3.) visit the parks 12/19-12/21; and then
4.) apply the MYW tickets' value to the cost of the DVC Gold renewal APs.​

If I can make this work, it'd be a $500 savings, so obviously I am interested in pursuing the possibility.

I am assuming that if I upgrade to a Gold AP at the beginning or the middle of my trip, I will be locked out of the parks due to being in the Gold's blackout window. If I am right, then the question turns to when can I upgrade to Gold without jeopardizing my 12/19-12/21 park entry and FP+'s. If that's even possible at all.

Am I just chasing my tail here, or is there a way to make this happen?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Upgrade on 12/21 to Gold before you exit the park for the final time that day.

 

[squirk]

That's what I was thinking, but I've seen some sites state that you need to have one full unused day on the tickets in order to upgrade. I am not sure if that is true; I've seen other sites state it just has to be done within 14 days of first use.

But assuming that there still have to be "one full unused day", isn't the ticket on 12/21 considered "used" once I enter the park that day? Or is it not fully "used" until the park closes that day?

 

[Robo]

That's what I was thinking, but I've seen some sites state that you need to have one full unused day on the tickets in order to upgrade. I am not sure if that is true...

It is never true.
That is misinformation that gets repeated and repeated.

 

[squirk]

It is never true.
That is misinformation that gets repeated and repeated.

Believe you me, I know that incorrect information can cascade throughout the interwebs and take on an air of legitimacy just by being repeated often enough.

So you agree with @hiroMYhero? Upgrade on my way out of the park on my last night?

 

[Robo]

Believe you me, I know that incorrect information can cascade throughout the interwebs and take on an air of legitimacy just by being repeated often enough.

So you agree with @hiroMYhero? Upgrade on my way out of the park on my last night?

Just do it no later than close-of-business on the day that you have used the last asset on your ticket.

 

[Robo]

It might help to look at it as, if a guest could NOT upgrade a ticket with no "days left" on it,
a guest who had only bought a one-day ticket originally and used it at a park, then had "so much fun" that
he decided that he wanted to add another day or two or more to his Disney visit, would not be allowed to do so.

That would be counter-productive selling.

 

[squirk]

It might help to look at it as, if a guest could NOT upgrade a ticket with no "days left" on it,
a guest who had only bought a one-day ticket originally and used it at a park, then had "so much fun" that
he decided that he wanted to add another day or two or more to his Disney visit, would not be allowed to do so.

That would be counter-productive selling.

I agree with your logic, but I wonder if WDW would be wise to what I'm trying to do - essentially leverage a loophole to buy a Gold AP yet not be blacked out 12/19-12/21.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I agree with your logic, but I wonder if WDW would be wise to what I'm trying to do - essentially leverage a loophole to buy a Gold AP yet not be blacked out 12/19-12/21.

It isn't a loophole.

The value of any type of ticket can be used towards an upgrade. It doesn't matter that they are blocked out days for Gold. It's the VALUE that counts and Disney wants your future business.

 

[hiroMYhero]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/my...s-upgrade-to-gold-pass.3455468/#post-54592265

 

[squirk]

Thanks for the link. Contrast to the discussion in that thread, I guess my question now is: does the fact that these would be renewals and at the DVC-discounted renewal rate change anything?

I just have visions of the CM's head spinning when I walk up to Guest Relations to do this.....

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the link. Contrast to the discussion in that thread, I guess my question now is:

1. does the fact that these would be renewals and at the DVC-discounted renewal rate change anything?

2. I just have visions of the CM's head spinning when I walk up to Guest Relations to do this.....

1. We could play the "what if" game forever.
Disney is in the business of upgrading tickets.

2. Yes, that would not surprise me in the least.
But, no matter what, you can always get any incorrect situation straightened out.

My years on this board attest to that.

 

[squirk]

True, but I was hoping someone had successfully tried to do exactly what I'm doing. Again, not only upgrading, but renewing at the DVC discount as well.

Only WDW can give me the authoritative answer. I am glad that I asked here first as it seems like it's possible and worth placing the call. If I had gotten 30 responses saying "it's not possible", then I would proceed differently.

 

[Robo]

True, but I was hoping someone had successfully tried to do exactly what I'm doing. Again, not only upgrading, but renewing at the DVC discount as well.

Only WDW can give me the authoritative answer. I am glad that I asked here first as it seems like it's possible and worth placing the call. If I had gotten 30 responses saying "it's not possible", then I would proceed differently.

Do not call "Disney."
Nobody that you can reach by phone will have any good info for you.
(But, that never seems to stop them from "making up something" to tell you.)

No, I am in no way kidding.

 

[squirk]

So are you saying there is no way to officially confirm that I can do what I want to do ahead of time? That I should show up and try it and if they give me any pushback, I should stand my ground until they make it right?

That's fine if you are. I just want to make sure I am tracking you correctly.

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!

 

[msmama]

If you upgrade the ticket with the water park and more option, having used the water park option once, you have to upgrade to the AP that includes the water parks, right?

So it seems to me that if you tried to upgrade to the AP with blackout dates with tickets that you've already used during blackout dates, they would only upgrade to APs that include those dates.

I have no experience or expertise, that's just what I would expect. Good luck. I hope it works for you!

 

[hiroMYhero]

If you upgrade the ticket with the water park and more option, having used the water park option once, you have to upgrade to the AP that includes the water parks, right?

So it seems to me that if you tried to upgrade to the AP with blackout dates with tickets that you've already used during blackout dates, they would only upgrade to APs that include those dates.

I have no experience or expertise, that's just what I would expect. Good luck. I hope it works for you!

Unfortunately, you have now given squirk bad info.

Even if squirk doesn't trust my info, he definitely should trust Robo's even if it is the same as mine!

 

[msmama]

Unfortunately, you have now given squirk bad info.

Even if squirk doesn't trust my info, he definitely should trust Robo's even if it is the same as mine!

I'm sorry if it came off as I was offering any info at all. It was more of a clarification question as I've heard that Disney makes you upgrade to certain things if you had a certain pass. Can you explain what I got wrong?

I'm not trying to be difficult I really don't understand (and would like to since it might matter as I was thinking of getting family passes for Xmas that may need to be upgraded to APs).

 

[squirk]

Unfortunately, you have now given squirk bad info.

Even if squirk doesn't trust my info, he definitely should trust Robo's even if it is the same as mine!

I apologize if I gave either of you that impression.

Please understand - I'm confident you guys are giving me the correct answer. I am not confident that the CM at Guest Relations, or even their supervisor, will know what the correct answer is, y'know?

If I show up and try this and the uninformed CM shoots me down, I doubt that saying "Robo and hiroMYhero from The DIS told me this was OK" will resolve the issue. That's the reason I asked Robo if I should prepare myself going in for a low-level fight on this. It's fine if that's the way it's going to be; I just want to be prepared.

And the reason I am being a stickler is this: if I try this and the CM says "Sorry, you need an unused ticket to do this, and you have none left," then what? I've paid the $1650 for the MYW and then I will have to spend another $2500 to get my Gold passes, bringing my out-of-pocket to $4150 instead of the $2500 I was hoping to spend.